It's going to get worse and worse and worse, my friend [2012]
A speech can be a mighty weapon. Throughout the centuries it has enthused countless masses and galvanized them into action, for better or for worse. It has unleashed revolutions and fueled wars. Just by the power of words. But a speech does not only enthuse the hearers, often it also transposes the speaker into a state of trance. Then he loses himself in a stream of words, in an obsessive, ecstatic way of speaking. The power of a speech often depends on the trance of the speaker.
In "It's going to get worse and worse and worse, my friend" Lisbeth Gruwez dances the trance of that ecstatic speechifying. In the process, she takes advantage of fragments from a speech by the ultraconservative American televangelist Jimmy Swaggart.
Initially the parlance is friendly and pacifying, but from his compulsive desire to persuade transpires growing despair. Eventually it exposes its deepest nature: violence.
PRESS CUTTINGS
When did you lately see a dance performance that kept you in rapt attention from second 1 to second 3000 so as to maximally enjoy every single movement? If this was some time ago, then we have some good advice for you: book, no, grab a ticket for "It's going to get worse and worse and worse, my friend” (****). Starring: Lisbeth Gruwez.
Even though this performance does not thematize merry subject-matter, the way this subject-matter is being transposed into dance is so impressive that you walk away with a swirly head and eyes gleaming with wonder. Marvellous!
By Els Van Steenberghe, KNACK
The power relations between male voice and female performer (who manipulates who?) becomes a marvellously threatening pas de deux.. (…) Lisbeth Gruwez leaves us behind flabbergasted, struck dumb. 2012 has only just started, but Gruwez at once sets the standards very high. ****
By Sarah Vankersschaever, DE STANDAARD
The fusion of sound, choreography and light keep the public enraptured. Once more Lisbeth Gruwez |Voetvolk succeeds in keeping the audience spellbound with this new performance. (...)
The dancer's trance fires the audience. She inflames us and keeps us in rapt attention till the end of the show. ****
By Eline Van de Voorde, CUTTING EDGE
With ‘It’s going to get worse’ she consolidates her status of strong woman, exploring borders at the cutting edge and transgressing them.(...) The choreography dialogues with the ingenious soundscape that Maarten Van Cauwenberghe constructed with fragments from Swaggart’s speech (...) It’s a relief to see such a clear elaboration of an idea without it becoming conceptual or arty farty. ****
By Lene Van Langenhove, ZONE02
LISBETH GRUWEZ | VOETVOLK DELIVERS FASCINATING PERFORMANCE WITH ‘It’s going to get worse and worse and worse, my friend’
By Pieter T’Jonck, DE MORGEN
Control is what it is all about. Form is the key. And the power with which Lisbeth Gruwez affirms dance with bravura. End of babbling. End of modesty. From now on it will get worse, friends. Let it come down.
By Melanie Suchy, BALLET TANZ
The public experienced a key moment in the history of theatrical and dramaturgical presence.
HANNOVERSCHE ALLGEMEINE
In contrast with the show’s title, it doesn’t get much better and better than this, my friend.
by Lisa Wolfe, TOTAL THEATER REVIEW
Concept, choreography & dance
Lisbeth Gruwez
Composition, sounddesign & assistance
Maarten Van Cauwenberghe
Styling
Veronique Branquinho
Artistic advisor
Bart Meuleman
Light design
Harry Cole & Caroline Mathieu
Technical director
Thomas Glorieux
Thanks to
Tom de Weerdt
Production
Voetvolk vzw
Coproduction
Grand Theater Groningen, Troubleyn/Jan Fabre, Theater Im Pumpenhaus & AndWhatBeside(s)Death
Diffusion
Key Performance
With the support of
the Flemish Community, the Province of Antwerp & the Province of West-Flanders
Pictures
Videos
Press
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Jan 19 2012 Kort Geding |
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Jan 12 2012 'Een goed spreker herken je aan zijn pauzes' |
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Jan 16 2012 De verleidingen van het woord |
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Jan 13 2012 De volksmenner in extase |
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Mar 19 2012 It’s getting better and better and better and better |
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Mar 14 2012 De roes van het woord |
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Mar 1 2012 It's going to get worse and ... (Ballet Tanz) |
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Apr 4 2012 Lisbeth Gruwez, née de la cuisse de Jan Fabre |
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May 15 2012 Diverses expériences de solitudes dansée |
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May 18 2012 La folle danza di Lisbeth |
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May 17 2012 Portrait Lisbeth Gruwez | Flam(me)ande |
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May 17 2012 Suveränt solo om ordets makt |
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May 20 2012 Lisbeth Gruwez tanzt die Macht der Worte |
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May 20 2012 Grazile und grandiose Gesten |
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May 23 2012 Le corps a-t-il un langage ? |
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Jul 3 2012 Gruwez' dans hypnotiseert |
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Jul 4 2012 Intrigerende choreografie van Gruwez |
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Jul 10 2012 Julidans |
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Jul 10 2012 Intensiteit, precisie en overgave |
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Aug 15 2012 Politische Rhetorik im Körper |
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Aug 16 2012 Körper an der Front |
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Sep 7 2012 Schrecklich schöner Tanz |
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Aug 30 2012 Lisbeth Gruwez aux Brigittines: Comme un cheval fou |
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Aug 30 2012 Danser sur des mots : formidable |
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Sep 5 2012 Das Grandioze Gefecht der Lisbeth Gruwez |
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Sep 14 2012 A hatalom mámora |
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Nov 12 2012 Danse "Coup de Poing": Le public en redemande |
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Jan 11 2013 Lisbeth Gruwez’s rant gathers raves |
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Jan 17 2013 Magnétique Lisbeth |
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Jan 18 2013 L'anatomie d'un sermon |
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Jan 17 2013 Traduire le geste en mots |
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Mar 7 2013 L'Usine C réinvite Lisbeth Gruwez |
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Feb 5 2013 Por favor, que ella sea escuchada |
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Jan 31 2013 Una artista en las antípodas del ballet |
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Mar 28 2013 Die Beflügelnde Energie des Zorns |
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May 4 2013 Melhor e Melhor ! |
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Mar 28 2013 Sezierte Dramatik der Gesten |
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Apr 11 2013 Its getting worse and worse and worse, my friend |
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Mar 2 2013 Reflexiones linguïsticas en danza ***** |
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Nov 28 2013 Högerextrem väckelse |
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Nov 21 2013 Van Signapore tot Aarschot |
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Sep 25 2013 Gentle sermons turn into endless drills |
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Oct 1 2013 Ik dans de roes van de spreker |
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Aug 6 2015 Mit Kopf und Körper |
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Aug 5 2015 We must make an action! |
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Aug 5 2015 Tanzwerkstatt Europa Festival |
Technical rider
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